Best of Public Radio

Big Changes Coming to GPB Radio

All summer long we auditioned programs to replace "Talk of the Nation" (even as we cried in our coffee over losing TOTN). We asked for your feedback and received hundreds of emails, tweets, and Facebook posts. Every show has ardent fans, but we only have one spot to fill right now. And the overwhelming choice was "The Takeaway".

I got an email from Georgia resident (and self-identified 35 year member of NPR) Neil Henry. He said said, "Bulls Eye! Perfect choice GPB. John Hockenberry, intelligent, insightful, witty, always on target and a most worthy replacement to 'Talk of the Nation'."

Kathy Lytle of Griffin, GA, agreed. "By far 'The Takeaway' is the best show you've had on this summer."

John Hockenberry is a journalist's journalist. A man who's intensely curious about the world, has the tenacity to get answers, and the humanity to meet people where they are. I could go on and on about his journalism bona fides, but you can read about those here. John and his team of talented producers are bringing their show to Georgia, live from the GPB studios, later this month. Be listening!

Speaking of listening... The Takeaway isn't the only change you'll hear on GPB in the next few days. We've got a new schedule for weeknights at 7 p.m. and an entirely new weekend lineup. (Don't worry. Your favorites are still there, just at a new time.) Check it out:

You may be asking yourself, WHY?!? Why did they muck up what was a perfectly fine weekend schedule?

Let me pull back the curtain on some behind-the-scenes programming considerations. Our former schedule had Saturday mornings going from the irreverent craziness of "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me" to the often serious-in-tone "This American Life" and then back to the game show "Ask Me Another." It also inserted an NPR news program between American Routes and Prairie Home Companion, essentially breaking up what could be a really great block of music programming on Saturday nights.

I like to think of the new Weekend on GPB Radio as a Saturday afternoon filled with How To's (how to save money, how to find a job, how to cook a great meal!), complimented by a Sunday afternoon that challenges you with big ideas and creative storytelling.

But I want to know what you think. Leave me a message here or email me at tott@gpb.org. GPB... the station where you can listen AND be heard!